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af2 Names Players of the Week

June 3, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - Albany quarterback RYAN VENA, Birmingham wide receiver/defensive back ANTHONY JORDAN and Quad City wide receiver/defensive back JEFF HEWITT have been named Offensive Player, Ironman and ADT Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for Week 10 of the 2003 season.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Vena (6-foot, 220, Colgate), in his second season, led the Conquest to its fifth straight win with a 64-40 decision over the Rochester Brigade. Vena, the third rated passer in af2, completed 80% of his passes (17-for-21) for 251 yards and six touchdowns including a 44-yarder to JAMIE WARE late in the third quarter. Vena also amassed 26 rushing yards, which led all rushers in the game. For the season, Vena has been named game MVP in six of the seven Conquest wins. During the team's current five-game win streak, Vena's offense has averaged 61.8 points per game. This is Vena's first af2 weekly honor. He is the fourth Albany player to receive a weekly accolade this season.

IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Jordan (5-10, 186, Samford), in his fourth season, helped Birmingham snap a two-game skid with his efforts in the 63-37 win over Macon last weekend. In the game, Jordan led his team on both sides of the ball. The veteran receiver hauled in five receptions for a game-high 104 yards and four touchdowns, including a 46-yard bomb in the third quarter. Defensively, Jordan led all players with eight solo tackles and he made two key interceptions. This is Jordan's first-ever player of the week award and he is the second Steeldog to be honored this season. JULIUS GRIFFITH won the ADT Defensive Player of the Week award in Week 3.

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Hewitt (5-11, 190, Southwest Missouri State), who is in his third season, stepped up big for the Steamwheelers in its 48-21 win over the Swarm on Saturday. When DS TIM FOBES went down with an injury and with back-up LEE WIGGINS still nursing a hamstring injury, coach RICH INGOLD had Hewitt move to the DS spot. Hewitt, the Week 3 Offensive Player of the Week winner, rose to the occasion, recording three interceptions, five solo tackles and five pass break-ups. He even returned one of his interceptions 37 yards for a score, putting the Steamwheelers ahead 28-7 early in the third quarter. This is the fourth weekly award for the Steamwheelers this season. Along with Hewitt's two mentions, teammate IRA GOOCH earned Offensive Player of the Week honors in Weeks 7 and 8.

Offensive Player of the Week candidates included: Greensboro's Bobby Sippio, Memphis' Joseph Crear, Bakersfield's Eric Mahanke, Quad City's Ira Gooch, Cape Fear's Wilmont Perry, Hawaii's Mike Tillis, Mohegan's Greg Smith, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Chris Boden, Tulsa's Craig Strickland, Wichita's Daren Williams.

Ironman of the Week candidates included: Greensboro's Tanaka Scott, Memphis' Ed Smith, Albany's Jamie Ware, Bakersfield's Nathan Buergey, Columbus' James Dickerson, Cape Fear's Anthony Hines, Hawaii's Nian Taylor, Mohegan's Mel Long, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Kevin Nagle, Tulsa's Mitch Allner, Wichita's Dan Dawson.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Greensboro's Mario Kelso, Memphis' Patrick Heard, Albany's Elijah Beamon, Bakersfield's J'Sharlon Jones, Birmingham's T.J. Perry, Columbus' Desmond Washington, Cape Fear's Dejuan Goulde, Hawaii's Darrell Jones, Mohegan's Anthony Comer, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Glester Thorpe, Tulsa's Larry Hollinquest, Wichita's Shomari Buchanan.



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